Matrix core threading apparatus

ABSTRACT

A MACHINE FOR THREADING WIRES THROUGH AN ARRAY OF MAGNETIC CORES ON FILLER PLATES TO FORM A MEMORY MATRIX HAVING A RECTILINEARLY RECIPROCATIVE CARRIAGE ON WHICH PLURAL HOLLOW NEEDLES ARE FIRMLY HELD IN TENSIONED CONDITION WITH PORTIONS OF THE NEEDLES ADEQUATE TO SPAN THE FILLER PLATES PROJECTING BEYOND THE CARRIAGE. THE WIRES EXTEND THROUGH THE PROTRUDE A SHORT DISTANCE BEYOND THE NEEDLES AND ARE MOVED UNITARILY WITH THE NEEDLES AND CARRIAGE THROUGH AN ADVANCE STROKE FEEDING BOTH THE NEEDLES AND WIRES THROUGH PARALLEL ROWS OF THE CORES, AFTER WHICH THE WIRES ARE HELD IN TENSION WHILE THE NEEDLES ARE RETRACTED, LEAVING THE WIRES THREADED THROUGH THE CORES, AND THE WIRES ARE CUT ADJACENT THE PROXIMAL EDGE OF THE ARRAY. MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR SUPPORTING THE NEEDLES AGAINST DEVIATION FROM THEIR ASSIGNED PATHS DURING RECIPROCATION, FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLAMPING AND RELEASING THE WIRES RELATIVE TO THE CARRIAGE, AND FOR MINUTE RELATIVE DISPLACEMENT OF PORTIONS OF THE ARRAY TRANSVERSELY OF THE NEEDLE PATH AND FOR ANGULAR AND VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE ARRAY.

Feb. 9, 1971 J. A. RAICKLE MATRIX CORE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec.16, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet z vNIY.

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MATRIX CORE THREADING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 16, 1968 E LK m A E A N w I BY masc u iwunuflb %cgnm wbu, ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1971 J.A. RAICKLE 4 MATRIX CORE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16.1 1968 8Sheets-Sheet 5 ilg-e 51 51a 50 l- INVENTOR JOHN A QMcKLE ATTORNEYS J. A.RAICK LE MATRIX CORE THREADING APPARATUS Feb. 9, 1971 8 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed Dec, 15, 1968 INVEN TOR P0 IE0 lrlhhwnu Hun. V ////v// /w/ //n/NA.

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u u N0 e -s Or. 0r F F m w K am J w ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1971- J. A.RAICKLE MATRIX CORE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16, 1968 8Sheets-Sheet 7 JOHN AJZAlQKLE BY was gamma,

- I ATTORNEYS Feb. '9, 1971 E 3,561,088 I MATRIX CORE THREADINGAPPARATUS Filed Dec. 16, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR J'oHN A- QAICKLEATTORNEYS United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 29203 23 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A machine for threading wires through an array ofmagnetic cores on filler plates to form a memory matrix having arectilinearly reciprocative carriage on which plural hollow needles arefirmly held in tensioned condition with portions of the needles adequateto span the filler plates projecting beyond the carriage. The wiresextend through and protrude a short distance beyond the needles and aremoved unitarily with the needles and carriage through an advance strokefeeding both the needles and wires through parallel rows of the cores,after which the wires are held in tension while the needles areretracted, leaving the wires threaded through the cores, and the wiresare cut adjacent the proximal edge of the array. Means are provided forsupporting the needles against deviation from their assigned pathsduring reciprocation, for automatically clamping and releasing the wiresrelative to the carriage, and for 'minute relative displacement ofportions of the array transversely of the needle path and for angularand vertical adjustment of the array.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toapparatus for concurrently threading wires along a plurality of parallelrectilinear paths through aligned holes of small matrix memory coresarranged in parallel rows of plural cores to produce memory matrices foruse in electrical and electronic computer devices.

The memory matrices employed in electrical and electronic computerdevices comprise a plurality of very small paramagnetic rings, usuallyreferred to as cores, arranged in a common plane so that the openings inthe cores are aligned along a set of parallel first axis rows and alsoalong a set of parallel second axis rows perpendicular to the first axisrows, frequently referred to as the X and Y axes of the matrix. Thecores are located at the intersections of their respective associatedfirst and second axis rows and arranged perpendicular to the commonplane of the matrix, with the cores inclined at an angle of about 45 tothe axes of their respective associated first and second axis rows. Oneor more wires are threaded through these cores in each of the X and Yaxis directions to complete the assembly of the matrix, and frequently,in the so-called bootstrap wired matrices, each of the wires in onedirection must be threaded through some of the cores in one row and thenthrough the remainder of the cores in the adjacent parallel row. As theminiaturization of electronic circuit components has progressed, thesize of the elements making up such matrices has also been reduced, sothat it is not uncommon to have matrix cores wherein the diameter of thehole in the core is approximately .020 inch, and each such hole may havefour wires threaded therethrough, each having a diameter of about .003inch. Ordinarily, each matrix comprises thousands of such cores.

It has been customary in the past to hand assemble these matrices bymanually feeding the wires through the individual cores, using tweezersor guide needles of various constructions. For example, aligned rows ofcores have been threaded by passing a hooked needle through the cores,attaching a wire to the hook end of the needle and then withdrawing theneedle along a reverse path with the wire attached, or by attaching awire to the trailing end of a needle, passing the needle through thecores, and drawing the wire through after the needle. Obviously, suchhand assembly of these matrices is an extremely slow, tedious, exactingand costly procedure under the best circumstances, and highly skilledworkers are required to perform this work.

Considerable effort has been devoted to development of apparatus whichwill facilitate the threading of such matrix magnetic cores and reducethe degree of workers skill, time and cost involved in assembling thematrices. Typical of efforts to solve this persistent problem are thedevices shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,958,126, to Shaw et al., and No.3,174,214, to Davis. In both of these patents, elongated hollow needlesor needle-like tubes having the wires led through the bores of theneedles are advanced with the wires from a proximal end of the corearray to the distal end thereof, after which the lead end portions ofthe wires are secured at the distal end against movement and the needlesare retracted relative to the wires to withdraw them from the cores. Inthe Davis device, a single needle feeds the wire through one row ofcores along one axis, for example, the X axis, of the matrix, and aplurality of needles thereafter concurrently feed wires through theplurality of cores which were threaded by the single X axis wire to feedY axis wires through these cores. The lead end of the wire projectingbeyond the lead end of each needle must be bent rearwardly over theadjacent exterior surface portion of the needle to permit it to be fedwith the needle through the cores, and this bent lead end of the wiremust be held in some manner while the tube is withdrawn from the coresto leave the wire inserted in the cores. Obviously, considerable manualmanipulation of the wires must occur in the use of this device to bendthe lead end of the wire back over the leading end portion of itsassociated needle before each advancement of the needle through thecores and to hold the hooked end of the wire when the needle is retracted.

In the device of the earlier patent to Shaw et al., the plurality ofhollow needles or needle-like tubes are concurrently advanced throughthe cores while the lead ends of the wires are located entirely insidethe bores of the needles, and after the needles have been advanced fullythrough the cores, the wires are then advanced through the needles to aposition whereby their feed ends protrude from the lead ends of theneedles, after which the protruding ends of the wires are gripped andthe needles are retracted to their original positions.

In the Davis apparatus, the needles are supported at their ends remotefrom the cores by a reciprocated carrier spaced from the lead end of theneedle a distance greater than the axial length of one of the matrixrows, leaving a long expanse of unsupported needle which can be readilydistorted out of the very precise position and alignment in which itmust be maintained to properly register with the very small diameterbores in the cores. In the Shaw et al. apparatus, the needles areaxially driven by limited surface engagement between a Wertically spacedpair of rubber rollers which slide the needles axially along a supportsurface, and which engage and drive the wire through the needles afterthe needles have been advanced across the array and their trailing edgeshave passed beyond the rollers. This arrangement does not provideadequate protection against bowing or distortion of the elongatedneedles or of the wire, particularly as the needles are able to undergosome rotation 3 about their axes during movement along the supportsurface, and thus preservation of needle alignment with the cores cannotbe insured with the required high degree of precision.

An object of the present invention is the provision of novel apparatusfor rapidly and reliably assembling magnetic core matrices by insertingWires into the plurality of parallel rows of magnetic cores.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novelapparatus for rapidly assembling magnetic core matrices by insertingwires into the plurality of parallel rows of magnetic cores which iscapable of threading wires in a wide variety of matrix wiring patternsin both X and Y axis directions, including bootstrap wiring of matrices,and which insures reliable proper feeding of the wires through thematrix cores over long periods of use.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatusfor threading wires through matrix cores, wherein the major portions ofthe wires are housed in hollow elongated needles during advancementthrough the cores and are maintained in proper alignment with the coreswith an extremely high degree of precision during advancement throughthe cores.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferredembodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIGS. 1A and 1B collectively form aside elevation of matrix core threading apparatus embodying the presentinvention, with parts broken away to reveal details thereof;

FIGS. 2A and 2B collectively form a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus as viewed from the right of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the filler plates inwhich the cores are supported during threading thereof;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section view through one of the pinch rollbearings, taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 6 is a section view, taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section view of the cutting knife assembly,taken along the line 77 of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 8 is a section view, taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of another form of head and a spider usabletherewith;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9;and

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the head of FIG. 9 and thespider employed therewith during adjustment of filler plate positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings, wherein like reference characters designate correspondingparts throughout the several figures, the apparatus of the presentinvention, indicated in general by the reference character 15, isdesigned to facilitate the rapid production of a magnetic core matricesby advancing wires along X axis rows and then along Y axis rows througha plurality of annular magnetic cores, indicated 16, in FIG. 4, when thecores have been supported in a common matrix plane on a suitable coresupporting base, such as the filler plate 17. The filler plate 17 isformed of rigid, non-conductive material such as an insulative ordielectric plastic, having a substantially rectangular perimeter and anupper surface 18 provided with a plurality of concave cavities orrecesses 19, corresponding in number and location to the magnetic cores16 to be present in the final matrix assembly. The cavitie 19 have theconfiguration of a shallow cylindrical segment to receive a lowerportion of the magnetic cores 16 and support them in planesperpendicular to the plane of the surface 18. The upper surface 18 ofthe filler plate 17 may be otherwise flat, or may have a plurality ofguide grooves of selected depth extending parallel to the X axis of thematrix and a second group of parallel guide grooves extending parallelto the Y axis of the matrix and having a somewhat greater depth than theX axis guide grooves intercepting the cavities to assist in guiding thewires and needles. The cavities 19 being oriented so as to dispose thecores 16 at an angle of about 45 to the X and Y axes of the matrix, thetop surface of the plate, or the base surface of each guide groove, ifused, is spaced a sufficient distance above 0 the lowermost points ofthe cavities 19 to register wires being fed along these surfaces withthe hole or central opening in each of the cores. Each cavity has avacuum port 20 extending from its lowermost point through the fillerplate 17 to the bottom side thereof, so that upon application of vacuumor suction pressure to the bottom side of the filler plate 17, as willbe later described, the cores 16 will be held within their respectivecavities 19.

The matrix core threading apparatus 15, which is generally illustratedin FIGS. 1A and 1B, 2A and 2B, and 3, comprises a base plate 23 having afiller plate supporting assembly, generally indicated at 24, locatednear one end thereof, and a needle reciprocating assembly, generallyindicated at 25, arranged in selected lateral alignment with the fillerplate supporting assembly for feeding hollow needles and Wires into thecores 16 disposed on the filler plate 17. The assembly 25 comprisesupright posts 26 supporting a pair of elongated rectilinear guide rods27 in a horizontal plane above the base plate 23, which extend throughand form supporting tracks for slidable bearing members 28 dependingfrom a base platform or carriage plate 29 of an elongated needlecarriage 30. Depending from the bottom side of the base platform 29along one edge thereof is an elongated rack 31, the teeth of which meshwith a drive pinion 32 on a shaft 33 journaled in and extending throughan upright bearing post 34 and having a manual operating knob 35 fixedto the shaft 33 and outwardly of the bearing post 34 for reciprocatingthe needle carriage 30 through advance and return strokes along aprecise rectilinear path governed by the guide rods 27.

The base platform 29 has a fiat horizontal upper surface 36 which isspaced downwardly a slight distance below the plane of the horizontalupper surface of the filler plate 17. A plurality of elongated hollowneedles 38, corresponding in number to the number of rows in one fillerplate 17, are firmly held on the carriage platform 29 at locationsspaced apart a major portion of the length of the needles, with theneedles 38 arranged in parallelism in a plane aligned with the plane ofthe upper surface of filler plates 17 and extending from a locationadjacent the left hand or trailing end of the carriage plate 29, asviewed in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and 2A and 2B, to a projected position beyondthe right hand or leading end thereof. The needles 38 form elongatedhollow tubes whose internal diameter corresponds closely to the outerdiameter of the wire to be threaded through the cores 16, for example,wire having a diameter of .003 inch, and in the preferred embodiment maybe formed of stainless steel tubing 38a having a length of about 2 feet,and inside diameter of about .004 inch and an outside diameter of about.006 inch and having a tubular stainless steel shank 38b of about .006inch internal diameter, about .015 inch outer diameter, and an axiallength of 1% inches shrunk or otherwise secured to the trailing endportion of the tubing portion 38a in a partially telescoped oroverlapped relation thereon.

The needle shank 38b is located on the carriage plate 29 by a clampingblock assembly 39 formed of a lower block member 40 having grooves inthe upper surface thereof to receive the lower surface portions of thcshanks 38b and an upper block member 41 secured to the lower blockmember by knurled head screws 42 and precisely aligned therewith by suchscrews and by adjacent alignment pins. A stop plate 43 is secured to theface of the block members 40, 41 facing toward the assembly 24, havingapertures sized to pass the needle tubes 38a but not the shanks 38b. Theassembly of the upper and lower block members 41, 40 is supported forlimited longitudinal movement on the top plate 36 by mounting screws 44extending through elongated slots 44a in the lateral end portions of thelower block member and into the carriage plate 29, and is biased towardthe trailing end of the plate 29 by tension springs 45 connected to thelower block member 40 and to laterally spaced posts 46 on the carriageplate. These posts 46 also have stop pins 47 threaded therein foradjustment longitudinally of the plate 29, which may be fixed at desiredadjusted positions by nuts on the pins 47 and bear at their free endsagainst confronting surface portions of the upper block member 41.

The wires, indicated collectively at 48, to be fed through the bores ofthe hollow needles 38 are led through a wire guide block 49 fixed to thecarriage plate 29 at the trailing end thereof and beneath overlyingpinch roll 50, into the bores of the needles 38 at the shank endsthereof from suitable supply spools, diagrammatically indicated at 48ahaving conventional clutch discs 48a for applying a selected frictionalforce to the spools to maintain the wires under slight tension. Asufficient length of wire is paid off the spools through the wire guideblock 49 and between the pinch roll 50 and a block or elevated surfaceportion of plate 29 therebeneath into each of the needles and project avery short distance beyond the leading ends of the needles through whichthey are fed. The upper pinch roll 50 is journaled in upright bearingmembers 51 having slightly vertically elongated journal openings for thetrunnions of the pinch roll 50 to accommodate a slight amount ofvertical movement of the pinch roll. A resiliently biased bearing pin 52is housed in a suitable recess in each of the bearing members 51 abovethe trunnions 50a of the pinch roll 50 to bear downwardly upon thetrunnions and bias the pinch roll 50 downwardly to driving surfaceengagement with the wires leading to the needles. A vertically movablecam pin 53- extends through a vertical axis bore in each of the bearingmembers 51 communicating with the journal openings to bear upwardlyagainst the lower portion of the trunnions 50a. This cam pin 53 isresiliently biased by spring 54 within the bore to a downward positionand the lower end portion of the cam pin projects below the bottom ofthe base platform 29 and has a circumferential groove 53a therein.Mounted against the underside of the platform 29 and alongside the lowerportion of the cam pin 53 is a spring loaded slide lock 55 having a noseportion which terminates in a concave surface adapted to interfit in aportion of the groove 53a when the groove registers therewith.Stationary tripping blocks 56 fixed on the base plate 23 and havinginclined cam surfaces 56a at the upper end thereof are so located alongthe line of travel of the cam pins 53 as to engage the cam pins when thecarriage 30 reaches the forwardmost limit of its advance stroke and liftthe cam pins, to thereby raise the pinch roll 50 out of engagement withthe wires and align the grooves 53a with the slide locks 55 which thenenter the grooves 53a and latch the cam pins in raised position untilthe carriage 30 returns fully to the retracted limit position at the endof its return stroke. At this retracter limit position, release blocks57 likewise fixed on the base plate 23, have tongue portions 57a whichengage the slide locks 55 and force them out of the grooves 53a of thecam pins 53 and release these pins to their lower positions, allowingthe pinch roll 50 to again bear on the wires 48.

A fixed clamping block 60 for the needles 38 is mounted on the carriageplate 29 at the lead end thereof, by means of knurled head screws 60aand alignment pins 60b, and comprises upper and lower blocks havingconcave recesses in their confronting surfaces designed to receiveportions of the needles therein and provide an interference fit with theneedles to securely clamp them on the plate 29 at positions spaced aselected distance back from the leading ends of the needles. Since thetrailing end portions of the needles are securely clamped by theclamping block assembly 39, which is movable on the plate 29 by virtueof the slots 44a through which the mounting screws 44 extend and isresiliently biased toward the left or trailing end of the plate 29 bythe springs 45, the needles are firmly gripped at these widely spacedlocations and continuously held under tension when mounted on thecarriage plate 29.

Adjacent the leading end portion of the needle carriage plate andoverlying a portion of the filler plate supporting assembly 25 is abridge structure 61 comprising an upper horizontal cross piece 62extending transversely across the apparatus and vertical supportingposts 63 at the opposite ends thereof having foot plates 64 secured totheir lower ends and slidably bearing on the upper surface of the baseplate 23. The foot plates 64 project towards the trailing end of thecarriage 30 from the posts 63 and have elongated slot 641: thereinthrough which mounting screws 64b extend into the base plate to supportthe bridge structure 61 for a limited range of movement, for example,about 1 inch, longitudinally of the base plate. The forward or extendedposition of the bridge structure 61 is determined by adjustable stopmembers 65 adjacent the posts 63 having stop pins 65a projectingtherefrom to be engaged by the posts of the bridge structure at theforward limit position of the bridge and having slots 6517 through whichmounting screws extend into the base plate to adjust the stop members65. The bridge structure 61 is linked to the base platform 29 formovement of the carriage 30 relative thereto while maintaining properalignment of these components relative to each other by rigid elongatedstraps 66 fixed to the cross piece 62 of the bridge structure andextending toward the trailing end of the carriage 30 immediately beneaththe latter, having elongated slots 66a therein Whose length correspondsto the length of the desired stroke of the carriage 30 plus the range ofmovement of the bridge structure permitted by the slots 64a, in whichfixed pins 66b depending from the carriage track during movement of thecarriage.

The cross piece 62 of the bridge structure 61 in the middle regionthereof rigidly supports a needle guide member 67 fixed therebeneath,designed to span the space between the leading end of the carriage 30and the filler plate supporting assembly 24 to support the leading endportions of the needles 38 over the space between these componentsagainst distortion or deviation from their assigned rectilinear axeswhile permitting axial reciprocative movement of the needle during theadvance and return strokes. The needle guide member 67 is supported independing relation from the cross piece 62 by bolts and alignment pins,indicated generally at 67a and have cylindrical bores therethroughaligned with the needles 3 8 and sized to support the needles in properalignment in sliding engagement with their exterior surfaces. It will benoted from FIGS. 7 and 8 that the needle guide member 67 has an upwardlyopening vertical slot 68 therein extending from its uppermost surface toa position im mediately below the needle path and aligned verticallywith the edge of the cross piece 62 confronting the leading end of thecarriage 30, with a portion of the needle guide member underlying thisslot to support the entrance portion of the needle guide member whichabuts the leading end of the carriage 30 at the forwardmost limit of theadvance stroke thereof. This slot 68 is designed to accommodate a knife69 having one end pivotally supported on a mounting block 70 fixed onthe cross piece 62 spaced to one side of the paths of the needles. Theknife has a handle portion 69a at the free end thereof and is springloaded to the raised position illustrated in the FIG. 7 by spring 71,and is normally maintained in the raised position by abutment with aninclined stop surface portion of the mounting block 70. The relativedisposition of the pivot axis of the knife 69 and the spring 71 is suchas to provide an over-center arrangement whereby the knife isresiliently maintained in either the raised or the lowered position towhich it is manually adjusted.

To insure against accidental manipulation of the knife to the lower orcutting position while any of the needles 38 occupy the knife slot 68,an elongated safety bar 72 i fixed to the underside of the base platform29 of carriage 30 by mount 72a and extends longitudinally of thecarriage through an opening sized to slidably accommodate the safety barin the needle guide member 67 to one side of the needle path, butlocated in the path of movement of the pivoted end portion of the knife69 to abut the knife end portion and prevent further downward movementthereof before the knife reaches the cutting position in its downwardstroke. This safety bar 72 has a length correlated to the stroke of theneedle carriage 30 and the location of the leading ends of the needle atthe retracted limit position of the carriage to maintain the safety barin such intercepting relation to the knife whenever the carriage is sodisplaced from its retracted limit position as to locate any portions ofthe needles within the knife slot 68 and to withdraw the free end of thesafety bar 72 toward the trailing end of the carriage from the knifepath when the carriage is sufficiently retracted to withdraw allportions of the needles from the knife slot 68.

The filler plate supporting assembly 24, which is located in the righthand region of the apparatus as viewed in FIG. 2B is designed to supportfour filler plates 17, as illustrated in FIG. 2B and provide for preciseangular adjustment and vertical adjustment, as well as translation ofthe filler plate along the X and Y axes, and also to optionally providefor micrometer controlled displacement of the pair of filler plates, forexample, the plates 17a', 17a, to one side of the transverse center axisof the assembly 24 relative to the other pair of filler plates 17b,17b". This supporting assembly 24 comprises a rotatably stage unit 75having a stage plate 75' journaled in the base plate 23 for rotationabout a vertical center axis and having a series of locating notches 75ain the periphery thereof, positioned, for example, at 15 increments,adapted to removably receive therein a spring loaded locating pin 76supporting for axial retroactive movement on the base plate in asuitable holder 76a. Supported on the rotatable stage unit 75 is a firstaxis guide frame 77 having parallel guide members 77a whose inwardlyconfronting faces define a dovetail groove slidably supported on adovetail guide block 77b which is coupled to a stage unit 75 forrotation therewith by coupling pins 75b. The frame guide members 7711are driven along the guide block by a manually rotatable lead screw andknob 77c for rectilinear recipprocative movement parallel to one edge ofthe filler plates 17. Supported on the frame guide members 77a is asecond axis guide frame 78 having similar guide member 78a slidablysupported on a guide block 78b fastened to guide members 77a withmembers 78a driven by a lead screw and knob 78c for rectilinearreciprocative movement along an axis perpendicular to the axis ofmovement of the guide members 77a.

Surmounted on the guide members 78a is a vacuum box 79 having internalfiuid ducts therein, indicated at 79a, terminating at one end in avacuum inlet port for communication to a conduit leading to a suctionsource (not shown) and opening at the other end through the top surfaceof the vacuum box 79. Removably mounted on the vacuum box 79 is any oneof a plurality of interchangeable heads, generally indicated at 80,properly positioned on the vacuum box by locating pins 81, for example,at the four corners thereof, extending through vertical openings in thehead 80 and aligned sockets in 8 the vacuum box 79. The reason formaking the heads 80 interchangeable is to permit heads of various typesto be mounted on the vacuum box 79 to support filler plates in differentways for different types of operation.

One form of head which may be used is illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 2B anddesignated by the reference character 82, and has an upwardly openingcavity 82a opening through the upper face thereof substantiallyrectangular configuration of an appropriate size to extend beneath fourfiller plates 17 spaced in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2B and havinga port communicating the cavity 82a with the ducts 79a of the vacuum box79. A rabbet is formed along the perimeter of the cavity 82a to receiveand support the edges of a removable panel 8211 having four rectangularopenings therein, which may also have rabbeted perimeters, to receiveand support the filler plates 17 and communicate the vacuum ports 20thereof with the cavity 82a to permit application of suction from thevacuum box 79 thereto. As will be observed from FIG. 2B, with the head82, the four filler plates 17 are arranged in a pattern which forms twoX axis rows and two Y axis rows. With this arrangement, the respectivefiller plates 17 cannot be displaced along the X or Y axes relative toeach other but must be moved as a group by adjustment of the knobs 77c,78c and their associated guide frame members.

Another form of head, indicated by the reference character 83, isillustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, and comprises a head member 84 havingfour openings 84 therein of generally rectangular configuration slightlysmaller than the filler plates 17 to support the perimeters thereof andcommunicate their vacuum ports 20 with the ducts 79a of the vacuum box79. The upper surface of the head member 84 is provided with a firstelongated groove 84:;

" extending in the Y axis direction across the head mem''- ber at thecenter thereof and a second groove 84b extending in the Y axis directionacross the head member at the center thereof and intersecting the firstgroove 84a. The groove 84a is designed to receive a solid locating guide85 having a length to extend entirely across the head member and the twosections of the groove 84b flanking the guide 85 in the groove 84a areeach designed to receive either a solid locating guide of the same crosssection as the guide 85 or a stack of two coextensive guides having aplane of separation located flush with the top surface of the headmember, both types of guides for the groove 84b being indicated by thereference character 86. The guides 86, either of the solid or two piecetype, and the guide 85, are of such total thickness as to dispose theirupper surfaces spaced slightly above the plane of the top surface of thehead member 84 so that the ed es of the locating guides form abutmentsurfaces for two adjoining edges of each of the filler plates 17 forproperly locating the filler plates on the head member 84. The one piecesolid locating guides 86 are used when aligning the filler plates in twoprecisely aligned rows of two plates each, while the two piece locatingguides 86 are used when moving the right or left hand pair of fillerplates 17a, 17b to form bootstrap wiring and like operations, as will belater described.

To facilitate precise transverse displacement of the right hand pair offiller plates 17a, 17a" to effect bootstrap wiring, a removable spider87 is provided, which fits over the head member 84 and is located inprecise relation thereto by apertures in depending pad formations at thecorners of the spider for receiving upwardly protruding portions of thelocating pins 81. Mounted on opposite edge portions of the spiders 87 inaxial alignment with each other along the common axis of the two righthand filler plates 17a, and 17a are a pair of micrometers 88 havingmicrometer shafts 88a which extend through suitable recesses in thelower surface of the spider to abut the outer edges of the two righthand filler plates 17a, 17a" opposite the edges thereof which contactthe locating guides 86. When the two piece locating guides 86 are used,

it will be apparent that coordinate adjustment of the micrometers 88 toshift the two right hand filler plates 17a, 17a", when the vacuum to thebox 79 is turned off, will effect movement of these two filler plates asa unit along the Y axis as the uppermost piece of the two piece guide 86abutting the edges of these filler plates is free to move along theupper surface of the head member 84. To maintain these two filler platesin precise alignment with each other along the wire axis during eachadjustment an elongated guide groove 87a paralleling the axis of thelocating guide 85 is provided in the lower surface of the spider toremovably receive a guide bar 89 which extends downwardly to the topsurface of the locating guides 86 and abuts the edges of the fillerplates 17a, 17a opposite the edges abutting the locating guide 85. Afteradjustment of the .filler plates 17a, 17a" to the desired offsetposition, the vacuum to the box 79 is again turned on to securely holdthe filler plates in their newly adjusted positions, and the guide bar89 is then removed so as to avoid interference with the travel of thewires and needles during the threading stroke.

Duplicate micrometers and a second guide bar may be provided to the leftof the center of the spider, if desired, for displacing the left handpair of filler plates 17b, 17b" or the spider may merely be removed andreassembled on the head member 84 after rotation of the spider through180 to effect micrometer adjustment of the left hand filler plates. Ofcourse, the size of the openings in the head member 84 below the fillerplate stations is made sufficient to provide communication between thevacuum box and the vacuum ports 20 of the tiller plates for all suchpositions of adjustment of the filler plates. It will be appreciatedthat following manual location of the filler plates in their assignedpositions by disposition of their appropriate edges in abutment with theguide 85 and one piece guides 86, or following micrometer adjustment ofthe filler plates in selected transversely offset relation to the otherfiller plates, the filler plates will be securely held in properposition by the vacuum conditions applied to their lower faces throughthe head from the vacuum box 79.

To effect vertical indexing of the filler plate supporting assembly 24between successive threading strokes of the carriage, the lower guideframe 77 is made to be vertically movable relative to the stage plate75' and pins 75b. Interposed between the upper surface of the stage 75and the lower surface of the frame guide block 77b is a jack nut 90having an enlarged head 90a and a precisely threaded, constricted lowerportion 90b threaded into a threaded center bore in the stage plate 75'.The perimeter of the head 90a is knurled at its top, for ease of initialassembly, and has incremental graduations thereon, marked or calibratedin terms of thousandths of an inch elevation changes and outwardlyfacing openings for receiving parts of a spanner wrench or tool forangular adjustment of the jack nut to align different graduation marksthereon with an index mark on the stage 75' to raise and lower the frameunit 77 through incremental steps equal to or slightly greater than thediameter of the wires to be threaded through the cores. Thus, the planein which the cores lie can be shifted vertically appropriate distancesfor second, third, fourth, or more, threading strokes of the wires andneedles through the holes in the cores by angularly adjusting the jacknut 90 to vertically change the level of the cores between each strokeso that the wires and needles for subsequent strokes will not beintercepted by wires already threaded through the cores during precedingstrokes.

In the operation of the apparatus, the filler plates 17 with coresseated in their cavities 19 are positioned in the appropriate stationstherefor on the head 80 of the filler plate supporting assembly 24,vacuum is applied to their lower surfaces through vacuum box 79 to holdthem securely in place on the head, and the first or upper row of fillerplates 17a, 17b, as viewed in FIG. 2B, are

properly aligned with the needle path by adjustment of the knobs 77c and78c. The needles 38 are assembled on the needle carriage 30 by insertingthem in the openings in the clamping bar assembly 39 from the directionof the trailing end of the carriage until the leading edge of the shanks38b abut the stop plate 43 of the clamping block assembly, and thetubing portions 38a of the needles are led into and clamped in the fixedclamping block 60 at a location along the needles such that the leadingends of the needles will be positioned slightly to the right of orbeyond the right hand edge of the right hand filler plate 17a, as viewedin FIG. 2B, when the carriage is at the forward or advanced limitposition. The nuts 47a are adjusted so that the stop pins 47 limitrearward movement of the clamping block 39 by the springs 45 to aposition imparting appropriate tension to the needles 38 to maintain theneedles in precise rectilinear condition. The wires 48 are insertedthrough the openings in the wire guide bar 49 and beneath the pinch roll50, with the pinch roll in raised condition, and are led through theneedles 38 until their leading ends project a selected short distancebeyond the leading ends of the needles, after which the pinch roll 50 islowered to hold the wires against the carriage plate 29 for travel withthe carriage and needles toward the assembly 24.

With the filler plates 17a, 17b precisely aligned with the needles 38 sothat the needles will pass through the openings in the cores forming therespective X axis rows, the carriage 30 is moved through its advance orthreading stroke from its retracted limit position to its advanced limitposition by manipulation of the knob 35, the pinion 32 connectedtherewith driving the rack 31 and the carriage 30 through the advancestroke. The needles are effectively maintained against deviation ordistortion from their prescribed rectilinear paths over the distancebetween the leading end of the carriage 30 and the filler platesupporting assembly 24 by the tension stresses applied to the needles atpoints spaced apart a major portion of their axial length and by thesliding support given by the needle guide member 67 mounted on thebridge cross piece '62. When the carriage 30 reaches its advance limitposition projecting the needles through the cores of the X axis rows ofthe filler plates aligned with the needle path, the protruding leadingend portions of the wires 48, which overlie the right hand border regionof the head 80, as viewed in FIG. 2B are then secured in any suitablemanner, as by applying a strip of pressure sensitive tape over theprotruding wire portion and against the adjacent surface of the head,and the carriage 30 is then withdrawn to the retracted limit position byreverse manipulation of the knob 35.

It will be noted that when the carriage 30 reached the projected limitposition, the cam pins 53 associated with the crimp roll bearings 51engaged the inclined ramp surfaces 56a of the tripping blocks 56,raising the pinch roll 50 out of contact with the wires 48 and thusreleasing the wires so that they will not be withdrawn by movement ofthe carriage in the carriage return direction during the return stroke.The slide locks 55 engaging the grooves 53a in the cam pins maintain thecam pins in raised position throughout the return stroke of thecarriage. When the carriage 30 reaches the retracted limit position,however, the slide locks 55 are engaged by the tongue portions 57a ofthe release blocks 57 to withdraw the slide locks from the grooves 53aand the cam pins 53 are spring returned to their lower position allowingthe pinch roll 50 again to fall into engagement with the wires 48 toclamp them against the top plates 36 and cause them to be led throughthe advance stroke with the needles 38 during the next advance stroke ofthe carriage.

When the carriage 30 assumes the retracted limit position, the leadingends of the needles are spaced toward the trailing end from the slot 68in the needle guide member 67 a distance corresponding to the desiredwire length to be left protruding from the leading ends of the needles,while the leading ends of the needles are still located in the guidebores of the needle guide member 67. The knife 69 is then lowered to cutthe wires, and the bridge 61 is manually retracted toward the trailingend of the carriage 30 to expose the proximal end portions of the wireswhich have already been threaded through the cores to permit them to besecured to the head 80 by pressure sensitive tape or other suitablesecuring means.

The knob 77c associated with the guide frame 77 may then be rotated totranslate the head in the Y axis direction to locate the next X axis rowof filler plates 17a", 17b" in alignment with the needle path and thepreviously described procedures repeated to thread the cores on this rowof filler plates.

If the head 83 is used, the bootstrap wiring operations are desired, thespider 87 is placed over the head 83 and the micrometers 88 adjusted inthe manner previously described to displace the filler plates 17a, 17ain the Y axis direction from the normal aligned relation with the plates17b, 17b so that, for example, the first X axis row of cores of theplates 17a, 17a" is aligned with the second X axis rows of cores of 17b,17b respectively, thus causing the needles to be fed through therespective aligned X axis rows of filler plates 17a, 17a" and 17b and17b" in whatever relation is determined by the Y axis displacement whichhas been effected upon adjustment of the micrometers.

Following threading of the bores in the X axis direction, cutting of thewires, and taping of the Y ends to the head, the rotation stage 75 isthen rotated through 90 or other desired angles and the jack nut 90 isangularly adjusted relative to the stage 75 to vertically lower the head80 through one vertical indexing increment of a distance appropriate todisplace the wires that have already been threaded through the coresbelow the plane along which the next set of wires and needles will beadvanced during the next threading stroke of the carriage and thus avoidcontact of the needles during such subsequent stroke with the wiresalready in the cores. Then, the carriage advancing and retractingprocedure previously described is repeated in the Y axis directionrelative to the filler plates to complete threading of the matrix cores.

It will be apparent that a machine like that herein disclosed but havingonly a single needle 38 on the platform 29, can be used to thread a wirein any desired pattern through the cores along diagonal axis inclined 45to the X and Y axes by rotating the stage 75' to the appropriate 45position and adjusting the knobs 770 or 780 to shift dilferent groups ofcores aligned with each other along the diagonal axes into alignmentwith the single needle and reciprocating the needle through its advanceand return stroke. The wire can be cut when the carriage is returned toits retracted limit position, or can be taped down without cutting andthe filler plates shifted transversely to align other diagonally alignedsets of cores with the needle for a subsequent threading stroke, as maybe desired.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for threading wires through annular cores in a core arrayto form a memory matrix, comprising core support means for supporting aplurality of the cores in an array at a selected horizontal plane withthe cores disposed in a first set of parallel rows and a second set ofparallel rows intersecting the first rows, each core being common to twointersecting rows, an elongated horizontal carriage platform spacedlaterally from said array having leading and trailing ends respectivelyadjacent and remote from said array and supported for rectilinearreciprocative movement through advance and return strokes relative tothe array along a stroke axis paralleling one of said sets of rows, aplurality of elongated hollow axially rectilinear needles for threadingwires through the cores, needle support means for supporting saidneedles in axial parallelism on said platform in respective axialalignment with the rows of one of said sets with leading end portions ofsaid needles projecting beyond said platform toward the array a distanceto span the length of the row aligned therewith, said needle supportmeans including holding means securing each needle to said platform foraxial movement therewith and against rotation thereon at axiallyseparated holding stations spaced apart a major portion of the needlelength and maintaining them against deviation from axially rectilinearcondition between said stations, means for supplying a continuous wirethrough each of the respective needles to occupy feed positions whereintheir leading ends protrude a selected extent from the needles towardthe array, releasable wire clamping means on said platform for clampingthe wires at said feed positions against movement relative to theplatform to be advanced with the platform and needles during the advancestroke and for releasing the wires for movement of the platform andneedles relative thereto during the return stroke, and means for movingsaid platform through said advance and return strokes over a distanceprogressing the leading ends of the needles through the length of saidrows.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said holding means includesa first holding member for fastening the needles at a first longitudinalportion thereof against movement relative to the platform and a secondholding member movable in the stroke axis direction on said platform andresiliently biased away from said first holding member for gripping theneedles at a second longitudinal portion thereof and applying tension tothe needle portions lying between said first and second holding members.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said needles have externallyenlarged trailing end portions opposite the leading end portionsthereof; and said holding means includes a first holding block fixed onsaid platform adjacent the leading end of the platform for securing theadjoining needle portions against movement relative to the platform, asecond holding block spaced toward the trailing end of the platform amajor portion of the needle length supported on the platform for limitedmovement along the stroke axis having stop surfaces engaging andrestraining said enlarged trailing end portions against withdrawal fromsaid second holding block toward said first holding block, and springmeans connected between said second holding block and said platform forbiasing the former away from said first holding block and applyingtension to the needle portions lying between said blocks.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including needle guide meansoccupying a stationary position during movement of the platform havingguide surfaces in sliding engagement with the needles in a zone betweensaid platform and the array to support the needles aainst deviation fromtheir normal rectilinear paths.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 including needle guide meansoccupying a stationary position during movement of the platform havingguide surfaces in sliding engagement with the needles in a zone betweensaid platform and the array to support the needles against deviationfrom their normal rectilinear paths.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said wire clamping meansincludes a clamping member on said platform transversely spanning andoverlying the wires leading to said needles at a location between theneedles and the trailing end of the platform and movable toward and awayfrom the platform to clamp the wires thereagainst, means including afirst stationary member located adjacent the path of said platform forautomatically raising the clamping member to a release position relativeto the wires when the platform reaches its advance limit position andmaintain the clamping member raised throughout the return stroke, and asecond stationary member adjacent said path for automatically loweringthe clamping member into clamping engagement with the wires when theplatform reaches its return limit position.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said wire clamping meansincludes a clamping member on said platform transversely spanning andoverlying the wires leading to said needles at a location between theneedles and the trailing end of the platform and movable toward and awayfrom the platform to clamp the wires thereagainst, means including afirst stationary member located adjacent the path of said platform forautomatically raising the clamping member to a release position relativeto the wires when the platform reaches its advance limit position andmaintain the clamping member raised throughout the return stroke, and asecond stationary member adjacent said path for automatically loweringthe clamping member into clamping engagement with the wires when theplatform reaches its return limit position.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said wire clamping meansincludes a pinch roll overlying and transversely spanning the wiresleading to said needles at a location between the needles and thetrailing end of the platform, bearing members on said platformsupporting said pinch roll for movement toward and away from theplatform, said pinch roll being normally biased toward the platform toclamp the wires thereagainst for feeding the wires coordinately with theplatform and needles through the advance stroke, a vertically movablelifting member on the platform movable between upper and lower positionsfor lifting said pinch roll to a raised position spaced out of clampingengagement with the wires and having a contact portion extending fromthe platform, a stationary activating member located along the path ofsaid contact portion during movement with said platform forautomatically engaging the contact portion and elevating said liftingmember to shift said pinch roll to said raised position when theplatform reaches its advance limit position, releasable latch means forlatching said lifting member in said upper position upon elevationthereof to hold the pinch roll in raised position throughout the returnstroke, and a stationary release member located along said path toautomatically release said latch means from said lifting member whensaid platform reaches its return limit position.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said wire clamping meansincludes a pinch roll overlying and transversely spanning the wiresleading to said needles at a location between the needles and thetrailing end of the platform, bearing members on said platformsupporting said pinch roll for movement toward and away from theplatform, said pinch roll being normally biased toward the platform toclamp the wires thereagainst for feeding the Wires coordinately with theplatform and needles through the advance stroke, a vertically movablelifting member on the platform movable between upper and lower positionsfor lifting said pinch roll to a raised position spaced out of clampingengagement with the wires and having a contact portion extending fromthe platform, a stationary activating member located along the path ofsaid contact portion during movement with said platform forautomatically engaging the contact portion and elevating said liftingmember to shift said pinch roll to said raised position when theplatform reaches its advance limit position, releasable latch means forlatching said lifting member in said upper position upon elevationthereof to hold the pinch roll in raised position throughout the returnstroke, and a stationary release member located along said path toautomatically release said latch means from said lifting member whensaid platform reaches its return limit position. i

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said wire clamping meansincludes a pinch roll overlying and transversely spanning the wiresleading to said needles at a location between the needles and thetrailing end of the platform, bearing members on said platformsupporting said pinch roll for movement toward and away from theplatform, said pinch roll being normally biased toward the platform toclamp the wires thereagainst for feeding the wires coordinately with theplatform and needles through the" advance stroke, a vertically movablelifting member on the platform movable between upper and lower positionsfor lifting said pinch roll to a raised position spaced out of clampingengagement with the wires and having a contact portion extending fromthe platform, a stationary activating member located along the path ofsaid contact portion during movement with said platform forautomatically engaging the contact portion and elevating said liftingmember to shift said pinch roll to said raised position when theplatform reaches its advance limit position, releasable latch means forlatching said lifting member in said upper position upon elevationthereof to hold the pinch roll in raised position throughout the returnstroke, and a stationary release member located along said path toautomatically release said latch means from said lifting member whensaid platform reaches its return limit position.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means for cutting saidwires adjacent the edge of said array nearest said platform when theplatform is at its return limit position including a knife :bladesupported for movement in a prescribed plane transverse to the needleaxes and located toward the array from the leading ends of the needleswhen occupying the return limit position a distance corresponding tosaid selected extent of protrusion of the wire leading ends, wherebysaid selected extent of wire protrusion is present upon cutting of thewires by said knife blade.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, including means for cutting saidWires adjacent the edge of said array nearest said platform when theplatform is at its return limit position including a knife bladesupported for movement in a prescribed plane transverse to the needleaxes and located toward the array from the leading ends of the needleswhen occupying the return limit position a distance corresponding tosaid selected extent of protrusion of the wire leading ends, wherebysaid selected extent of wire protrusion is present upon cutting of thewires by said knife blades.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, including means for cutting saidwires adjacent the edge of said array nearest said platform when theplatform is at its return limit position including a knife bladesupported for movement in a prescribed plane transverse to the needleaxes and located toward the array from the leading ends of the needleswhen occupying the return limit position a distance corresponding tosaid selected extent of protrusion of the wire leading ends, wherebysaid selected extent of wire protrusion is present upon cutting of thewires by said knife blade.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said needle guide meanscomprises a stationary guide block having elongated bores therethroughfor slidingly receiving said needles and supporting the same in selectedpaths during said advance and return strokes, said guide block having aknife slot therein, communicating with said bores transversely spanningand intercepting the paths traversed by said wires and needles, and saidknife blade being movable in said prescribed plane from a first positionspaced from said bores to a second position in said knife slot forcutting the wires extending through said bores.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, including needle guide meansbetween said platform and said array comprising a stationary guide blockhaving elongated bores therethrough for slidingly receiving said needlesand supporting the same in selected paths during said advance and returnstrokes, said guide block having a knife slot therein, communicatingwith said bores transversely spanning and intercepting the pathstraversed by said wires and needles, and said knife blade being movablein said prescribed plane from a first position spaced from said tboresto a second position in said knife slot for cutting the wires extendingthrough said bores.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said bores in said guideblock have entrance portions confronting said platform spaced toward theplatform from said knife slot a sufficient distance to locate leadingend portions of the needle in said entrance portions when said platformoccupies its return limit position.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said bores in said guideblock have entrance portions confronting said platform spaced toward theplatform from said knife slot a sufiicient distance to locate leadingend portions of the needle in said entrance portions when said platformoccupies its return limit position.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, including an elongated safety barfixed to said platform and extending slidably through said guide blockalong a path to intercept movement of said knife blade toward the wireand prevent cutting thereof whenever the platform is displaced from itsreturn limit position and having a length to locate said bar out of suchintercepting relation to the knife blade when the platform occupies saidreturn limit position.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said core support meanscomprises a plurality of filler plates each having upwardly openingcavities for receiving portions of said cores to support the cores insaid first and second rows, a support head for supporting a plurality ofsaid filler plates in a common horizontal plane with a pair of saidplates spaced along an axis paralleling said stroke axis, means forangularly adjusting said head about a vertical axis to selectivelydispose said first rows and said second rows in parallelism with thestroke axis, and means for displacing said head transversely of saidstroke axis at plural angular positions of the head to precisely alignsaid first rows and said second rows respectively with the needle axes.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, including means for displacing afirst one of said pair of plates relative to a second one of said pairin a direction transverse to the axes of a corresponding set of rows ofeach of said pair of plates to variably align different respective rowsof the first plate of said pair with selected first rows of the secondplate of said pair along projected axes of the needles.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, including vertical indexing meanssupporting said head for vertical movement relative to the axes of saidneedles in incremental steps correlated to the diameter of the wires todisplace said head and cores downwardly between successive advancestrokes of the carriage a distance adequate to space the wires threadedthrough said cores during one advance stroke out of interceptingrelation to the needle paths traversed during the next succeedingadvance stroke.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 20, including vertical indexing meanssupporting said head for vertical movement relative to the axes of saidneedles in incremental steps correlated to the diameter of the wires todisplace said head and cores downwardly between successive advancestrokes of the carriage a distance adequate to space the wires threadedthrough said cores during one advance stroke out of interceptingrelation to the needle paths traversed during the next succeedingadvance stroke.

23. Apparatus for threading wires through annular cores in a core arrayto form a memory matrix, comprising core support means for supporting aplurality of the cores in an array at a selected horizontal plane withthe cores disposed in a first set of parallel rows and a second set ofparallel rows intersecting the first rows,

each core being common to two intersecting rows, an elongated horizontalcarriage platform spaced laterally from said array having leading andtrailing ends respectively adjacent and remote from said array andsupported for rectilinear reciprocative movement through advance andreturn strokes relative to the array along a stroke axis paralleling oneof said sets of rows, at least one elongated hollow axially rectilinearneedle for threading wire through the cores, needle support means forsupporting said needle on said platform in axial alignment with a row ofone of said sets with a leading end portion of said needle projectingbeyond said platform toward the array a distance to span the length ofthe row aligned therewith, said needle support means including holdingmeans securing the needle to said platform for axial movement therewithand against rotation thereon at axially separated holding stationsspaced apart a major portion of the needle length and maintaining theneedle against deviation from axially rectilinear condition between saidstations, means for supplying a continuous wire through the needle tooccupy a feed position wherein its leading end protrudes a selectedextent from the needle toward the array, releasable wire clamping meanson said platform for clamping the wire at said feed position againstmovement relative to the platform to be advanced with the platform andneedle during the advance stroke and for releasing the wire for movementof the platform and needle relative thereto during the return stroke,and means for moving said platform through said advance and returnstrokes over a distance progressing the leading end of the needlethrough the length of said rows.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,958,126 11/1960 Shaw et al.29203 THOMAS H. LEAGER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. XJR.

